Lok Sabha passes constitution amendment bill to restore states’ power to identify SEBCs

New Delhi: Lok Sabha passed the constitution (one hundredth and twenty-seventh amendment) bill 2021 to restore the power of state governments to identify and specify socially and economically backward classes(SEBCs), which was lost after the Supreme court’s 3:2 judgment in the Maratha quota case.
In the said case, a constitution bench of the supreme court had held by 3:2 majority that states lacked the power to identify and specify SEBCs after the 102nd constitutional amendment, and that such power was with the President of India.
Notably, the supreme court’s majority verdict was against the stand taken by the union government that the 102nd constitutional amendment did not affect the power of the states.
 The review petition filed by the union government seeking a review of the judicial interpretation given to the 102nd amendment was also dismissed.
Following that, the centre has now introduced this bill.
The bill proposes to amend Article 342A to state that the power of the President is to specify the socially and educationally backward classes in the central list for the purposes of the central government.